Home Secretary James Cleverly made ‘joke’ about giving wife date-rape drug
Home Secretary James Cleverly joked about giving his wife a date-rape drug, just hours after announcing a crackdown on the growing epidemic of drinks spiking.
The top Tory told female guests at a No10 reception that “a little bit of Rohypnol in her drink every night” was “not really illegal if it’s only a little bit”. Mr Cleverly also laughed that the secret to a long marriage was ensuring your spouse was “someone who is always mildly sedated so she can never realise there are better men out there.”
He said he realised he sounded like he was promoting “spiking”. His spokesman brushed aside his comments as “an ironic joke” But Mr Cleverly’s disgusting jibe came on the same day he vowed to strengthen the law to give spiking victims the confidence to come forward.
Now angry campaigners – battling a crime they described as an epidemic in a parliamentary inquiry last year – are calling on Rishi Sunak to investigate his Cabinet minister’s behaviour. Colin Mackie, chair of Spike Aware UK, who lost a child through drink spiking, said he was absolutely furious at Mr Cleverly’s remarks. He said: “Spiking isn’t a joking matter. It’s an appalling thing for the Home Secretary to say, especially when we’re trying to get changes to the law.”
The couple married in 2000 and have two sons (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
James Cleverly became Home Secretary in November 2023 (Getty Images)Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Spiking is a disturbing and serious crime which is having a devastating impact on young women’s lives. It is truly unbelievable that the Home Secretary made such appalling jokes on the very same day the Government announced new policy on spiking. It suggests that despite being the Cabinet Minister ultimately responsible for tackling violence against women and girls he doesn’t get how serious this is.”
Out of touch Rishi Sunak doesn't regularly read papers or online news sites
Rohypnol, along with along with nervous system depressant GHB, has become notorious as a date-rape drug. Known as “roofies”, they are used legally for medical sedation but possession without a prescription carries a maximum two years in jail. They are regularly used as a weapon in rape and other serious crimes.
Mr Cleverly’s “ironic joke” came on the same day he sat in the Commons as his Home Office minister Laura Farris gave a statement on changing the law to tackle spiking.
In a Home Office press release on the announcement Mr Cleverly, 54, said: “The public should be under no illusion – spiking is a serious offence and I urge anyone who suspects they have been a victim of this to contact the police now. This Government has already gone further than ever before to protect the public from harm, and ensuring that women and girls can live their lives free from fear is one of my top priorities as Home Secretary.”
The Home Office has said it will change the law so it is clear spiking is illegal “in every form, be that via food or drink, vape or by needle”. But Mr Mackie – who set up Spike Aware with wife Mandy after the suspected spiking death of their son Greg while studying at Edinburgh University in 2017 – said: “He’s undermined Laura Farris as a colleague and what groups like us try to do. Any amount of Rohypnol is too much.
“Saying things like that gives a green light to people who think spiking isn’t an offence, which is why we’re trying to get a specific offence in law. Someone higher up must investigate.”
Women’s Aid said: “We rely on political leaders to take action to end violence against women and girls and the misogyny that underpins it. It is vital that spiking survivors see ministers treating the subject seriously and not downplaying the reality so many women face.”
Did James Cleverly's 'joke' go too far? Vote in our poll HERE to have your say.
Conversations at Downing Street receptions are usually understood to be “off the record”. The Sunday Mirror decided to publish what Mr Cleverly said because we believe these are exceptional circumstances given his role as Home Secretary and the subject matter. It is our duty to inform readers of what was said by the minister responsible for crime.
Mr Cleverly’s spokesman said: “In what was always understood as a private conversation, the Home Secretary made what was clearly meant to be an ironic joke – for which he apologises.”
Mr Cleverly faced controversy within weeks of his appointment last month when he was accused of calling Stockton a “s***hole” at PMQs. Mr Cleverly insisted he had actually been shouting that MP Alex Cunningham was a “s*** MP”.
All the scandals and sackings from Rishi Sunak's first 100 days in No10
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
